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Lawn Chair Catechism 6.0

When I was a teenager and young adult, I attended retreats every year or so. It seemed that every retreat featured a “Trust Walk” and a “Trust Fall.”

If you’ve never had the pleasure, here’s how those work.

In a “Trust Walk” you are given a partner and a blindfold. Once your eyes are covered your partner leads you around, using verbal and nonverbal cues to make sure you don’t trip, fall, or walk into things (or other blindfolded people).

“Trust Falls” involve allowing yourself to fall backwards into the waiting arms of a person or group of people who stand behind you, ready to catch you before you crash to the ground. You can’t see the people who will catch you–you have to trust that they are there and that they’re paying attention.

While these exercises are good team-builders and ice-breakers, I’m not sure that they say all there is to say about trust where faith is concerned. In Chapter 6 of Forming Intentional Disciples, the topic is trust: not of the blind variety, but trust with eyes wide open. The author states on page 134,

“Many people don’t trust God or the Church, but they do trust a Christian in their life. Maybe they trust you. You may be the bridge that one day will lead them to a life-changing encounter with Christ.”

For someone who is just getting started in faith, or someone whose faith has been terribly shaken but who wants to renew the relationship, trusting in a person is a huge first step. It’s also a daunting responsibility for the trusted person. You are then challenged to be more loving, to learn more, to share more, and to clarify and deepen your own beliefs. You do not want to do or say anything that will lead someone in the wrong direction.

A Blast from the Past

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